Beyond An Accidental Shoreline (2/3) By Christopher Skolik

(1/4), (2/4), (3/4), (4/4).

Well, we cannot legally execute, now can we? At least not officially, eh?" MacGregor let out a raspy laugh. "And the medical interventions-" He waved a limp, dismissive hand, "-next to useless I'm afraid. Chemical castration is of questionable value. It is after all the brain where the problem actually lies," MacGregor tapped a finger to his temple significantly, "-in the personality, and not in the sex organs." "You do understand when people learn of this they are not going to be happy, right?" MacGregor stifled a yawn, "The alternative is that these individuals are in and out of institutions and prison...causing more harm, more damage, which results in more abusers."

"Maybe it would be better to try and stop people turning into monsters and predators in the first place-don't you think?"

"We are trying, but it would appear that the modern world is almost perfectly disposed to creating disturbed individuals, rather an unfortunate by product. Boredom can be very dangerous too. Sexual assault is the most clearly existential crime, yes?" "And you say it's incurable?" "Yes, we believe so. Like murder, it cannot be undone, and once they violate a child, destroying their innocence, well, they cannot undo the damage. The act of abuse changes the abuser in a fundamental way, just as it changes the victim. There can be no way back.

They have crossed a line. In a sense it could be said that they have surrendered their human citizenship-and become something else. Something we cannot trust.

Some of these offenders refer to their condition using the terminology of demonic possession, but that seems a cop out, a clumsy, desperate avoidance technique; 'The Devil made me do it'-but if there is a demon it is one they have actively invoked, willingly embraced. There can be no mitigation for destroying innocence." "So, is that the motive of these abusers, 'the destruction of innocence'?" "Obviously, they want to infect the child, and impose their own psychic wounds onto another, as if the act of spreading the pain might somehow lessen it, which of course it does not.

Driven like rabid dogs, to spread their disease-and sometimes they succeed which is why we view it as contagious." "Not all those who are abused become abusers." "But some do. Not all those bitten by mosquitoes acquire malaria. Of course some internalize the abuser and abuse themselves..."

3. The Island Location The helicopter approached the island, against the backdrop of the thin powder blue sky of spring, the island itself looked like a film set, with its mess of white cottages around the harbor. It was a perfect representation of a small, somewhat isolated Scottish fishing village, except, of course there where no boats. The hard grey rock formations, the bitter under bite of the wind, the foaming sea, all conspired to suggest to Dennison that it had to be somewhere close to the west coast of Scotland.

Of course this was just an estimate, as the actual location had been carefully concealed from him. That was part of the deal.

Continued... Next Page (3/4)

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